Female cibaria of 13 species of mosquitoes of the Spissipes Section of Culex (Melanoconion) were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy, and that of Culex adamesi were studied using light microscopy. Detailed descriptions of the cibaria are given. Culex taeniopus and Culex nicaroensis have six palatal papillae, others have four. Numbers of sensilla trichodea in the cibaria varied between species and within the same species: Culex spissipes has eight to 12; others have no more than eight. Possible use of cibarial armature to separate species is suggested. Taxonomic implications of the cibarial characters are discussed.
